asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he will state the number of inspectors employed by the Agricultural Wages Board and the area (or counties) covered by each inspector.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Wages Board Inspectors.
Mr. Walsh
There are three inspectors employed by the board. The area in which each inspector operates varies according to the amount of work on hands, but, as a general rule, the area covered by each is as follows:—
(1) Counties Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Clare; (2) Counties Kilkenny, Tipperary, Laois, Offaly, Carlow, Wexford and Waterford; (3) the remainder of the State.
In view of the recent legislation in connection with annual holidays and a weekly half-holiday for agricultural labourers, will the Minister consider increasing the number of inspectors, because I think he must agree that if these are to be enforced one inspector for six counties would not be sufficient?
Mr. Walsh
As the Weekly HalfHoliday Act is an optional Act and farmers and agricultural labourers will make their own arrangements, there is no necessity for the State to interfere to compel them to do anything because there is no compulsion in the Act.
I have sent on a complaint to the Agricultural Wages Board that these holidays were not being given by farmers and I suggest that one inspector for six counties would not be sufficient to enable an inspector to get to all these places where there are complaints.
Mr. Walsh
If there is justification for it, it may be considered, but I do not believe there is any justification.
Will the Minister adhere to the decision of his predecessor and not send any inspectors?
Or abandon their own plan to appoint "ten fields of inspectors"?